Owls take aerial
route to success

SHEFFIELD Wednesday are planning to intensify air raids on opposing teams next season.

Gary Megson sees goals from set-pieces as being vital to the team’s cause.

The Owls manager is pleased that four goals have come from this source in the first two first-team friendlies, against Worksop and Rotherham.

“Set-pieces are a big part of football,” he says. “We have purposely tried to bring in people who will be a threat from them.

“Lewis Buxton can score from them, Julian Bennett is decent from them, and obviously there’s Rob Jones and Gary Madine. We hope to have as many strings to our bow as possible.”

Right-back Buxton, twice, Mark Beevers and Gary Madine have all scored from corners - three of them taken by Chris Sedgwick, who has been one of the players praised by his boss after the 2-1 win against Rotherham.

Pleased with a “terrific” work-out against the Millers, Megson says: “We passed the ball well and created a lot of opportunities,

“Both goals came from set-pieces, which is a bonus, but we need to be scoring from free play as well.”

New midfield men Jose Semedo and David Prutton are making a growing impact.

“They’re both good players and we’re pleased with them, but there were a lot of good performances against Rotherham,” Megson said.

“Chris Sedgwick did exceptionally well; Jermaine Johnson looked a threat every time he got the ball; the back four looked solid, until it started to tire near the end. The only thing missing in the first half was goals.”

Megson is delighted with the squad’s application: “There’s a buzz about the place. I couldn’t be more pleased with the players we’ve got, but everybody is fully aware we need more.”